 | Andromana : or the merchant's wife |  |
ACT. III.
SCÆNA 1.
Enter Plangus and Inophilus talking to him.Ino.
But Sir, when you consider she's a woman—
Pl.
O dear Inophilus!
Let earth and heav'n forget, there are such things;
Or if they ever name them, let it be with a curse
Heavy as are the ills they act; a Mandrakes note
Would ring a better peal of Musick
In my ears, then those two syllables pronounc't agen.
Ino.
Pray Sir, put off this humour,
This peevish Pet, and reason tamely; Sir, you
Have lost a Wench, and will you therefore lose
Your self too? Hear me but patiently a word or two.
Pl.
Prethee go teach the Gally-slaves that word,
Things that dare own no thought beyond their chains,
And stand in fear of whipping, and wanting bread:
Bid them be tame and patient that fry in Sulphur,
'Tis a word I have forsworn to know the meaning of,
Or if I must, 'tis but to shun it, and hate it more.
Oh! were thy wrongs as great as mine, Inophilus,
Or didst thou love me half so well as thou dost Plangus,
Thou would'st instill into me the poyson of revenge,
And puff me up with thought of vengeance,
Till I did burst, and like a breaking cloud
Spread a contagion on those have injur'd me.
Ino.
Why this were handsome in some Country-fellow,
Whose soul is dirty
As the thing he's mad for;
But—
Pl.
I know what thou wouldst say,
But for Plangus: Oh tis for none but him to be so.
Those that have injur'd me are persons
I once held dearer then my eyes, But how much
Greater was my love, so much the more is the offence;
Wounds from our friends are deepest.
Had any but my father—And yet me thinks
That name should have protected me,
Or was it made only to secure offenders?
My life was his, he gave it me, my honour too
I could have parted with; but 'las my love
Was none of mine, no more then vows made to a Deity,
And not performd—And for that creature,
Who must be lost for ills through which
I must make way to my revenge,
Had she betrayd my honour to any thing
But him that gave me being,
She had made me half amends, in that my way
To vengeance had been open; Now I am spurr'd
Forward to revenge by fury, and yet
Held in by the rein of a foolish piety,
That doth no man good but them that use it not:
Tis like the Misers I doll, it yeelded him no gold
Till he had broke the head off.
But for Plangus: Oh tis for none but him to be so.
Those that have injur'd me are persons
I once held dearer then my eyes, But how much
Greater was my love, so much the more is the offence;
Wounds from our friends are deepest.
Had any but my father—And yet me thinks
That name should have protected me,
Or was it made only to secure offenders?
My life was his, he gave it me, my honour too
I could have parted with; but 'las my love
Was none of mine, no more then vows made to a Deity,
And not performd—And for that creature,
Who must be lost for ills through which
I must make way to my revenge,
Had she betrayd my honour to any thing
But him that gave me being,
She had made me half amends, in that my way
To vengeance had been open; Now I am spurr'd
Forward to revenge by fury, and yet
Held in by the rein of a foolish piety,
That doth no man good but them that use it not:
Tis like the Misers I doll, it yeelded him no gold
Till he had broke the head off.
Nay, Inophilus, one secret more,
And the horror of it blow thee from earth to heaven,
Where there are no such things as women,
Twill turn thy soul the inside outside outward.
I cannot get it out. Prethee what is't Inophilus?
And the horror of it blow thee from earth to heaven,
Where there are no such things as women,
Twill turn thy soul the inside outside outward.
I cannot get it out. Prethee what is't Inophilus?
Ino.
Alas! I know not, Sir.
Pl.
Do but imagine the worst of ills
Earth ever groan'd under; a sin nothing but woman,
Nay such a woman as Andromana durst think on;
And it is that.
Ino.
How revenge transports you!
Princes have lost their Mistresses before,
As hath Ephorbas to what Plangus hath;
Who could command her, if not Ephorbas.
Pl.
But I have—Oh Inophilus—I burst—
Yet it will out—dost thou not see it here
Unbuttons his doublet.
Oh I have known Andromana as
Ephorbas did last night.—
Ino.
Why Sir, the sin done by your Father is not yours
If you could not help it.—
Pl.
Why there it is:
Tis that which gnaws me here;
But I swore
By all the gods that she was as innocent
From my unclean imbraces, as is
The new faln Snow, or Ermines that will meet
Ten deaths before one spot: I made my father think
The thoughts of Angels were less innocent then she.
No it was I betray'd him; his vertue was too great,
Not to have suspected it.
How do I look Inophilus.
In.
Like some blest man that griev'd for other sins,
And could out of a good nature part with half
His own whiteness to purge the others stains.
Pl.
Now thou sooth'st, and like some flattering glass
Presents me to advantage. I am in short,
One born to make Iberia unhappy.
Had I as black a face as is my soul,
You'd finde in respect of it Ægyptians were snow white.
Me thinks I hear heaven tell me I am slow,
And it is time I had begun revenge.
Ephorbas has done him wrong who lov'd him
More then heaven or his happiness, and would
Have run out of the world to have left him free,
What ever he would lay claim to but Andromana;
Nay she also had been his, so't could have been without a sin,
But she knew the sin she acted, and yet did it,
And lives free from the stroke of thunder.
Is there such such a thing as heaven, or such a one
As Justice dwells there? and can I ask the question?
O the tameness of a conscience loaded with sin!
Which reasons and talks when it should do.
Presents me to advantage. I am in short,
One born to make Iberia unhappy.
Had I as black a face as is my soul,
You'd finde in respect of it Ægyptians were snow white.
Me thinks I hear heaven tell me I am slow,
And it is time I had begun revenge.
Ephorbas has done him wrong who lov'd him
More then heaven or his happiness, and would
Have run out of the world to have left him free,
What ever he would lay claim to but Andromana;
Nay she also had been his, so't could have been without a sin,
But she knew the sin she acted, and yet did it,
And lives free from the stroke of thunder.
As Justice dwells there? and can I ask the question?
O the tameness of a conscience loaded with sin!
Which reasons and talks when it should do.
But I will be reveng'd, and thus I begin, Inophilus,
He draws.
Be sure when I am dead to meet my ghost,
And do as that instructs thee; 'twill tell all the particulars
Of my revenge, who must dye first, who last, and
What way too; I have my lesson perfect.
And do as that instructs thee; 'twill tell all the particulars
Of my revenge, who must dye first, who last, and
What way too; I have my lesson perfect.
He leans the pummel on the ground to fall on it. Inoph. kicks it by with his foot.
Ino.
Is this the revenge befits great Plangus?
Pl.
Had this been done two dayes ago—
Thou durst as well have met the lightning
Naked, as have oppos'd my will thus.
Ino.
Hear me.
He draws.
Ask me no questions, nor answer me,—or if you do,
By heav'n I'le never speak more.
It is revenge you'd have, and tis a great one, a very noble one
To kill your self.
Be confident your greatest foes wish nothing more,
When after ages come to hear your story.
What will they say? Just as they did of Cato,
He durst not look great Cæsar in the face;
So Plangus was afraid and dyed:
A very pretty story, and much to a man's credit;
For shame, dear Plangus (let friendship use that title)
Shew your great soul the world beleeves you're the Master of
(And I dare swear you are) in this action.
Nay rally up your self, and fight it stoutly,
Shake from your minde revenge, and having lay'd
That passion by, put on that vertue
The world admires in you, 'tis now the time to shew it:
The Sun broke from a cloud doubles his light,
And fire the more resisted flames more bright.
Andromana has injur'd you scorn her therefore,
And shew she had done nothing; I'de not do her the favour
To have one thought for her, or could be troubled
At that she did,—As for your father, Sir,
Besides the tye of nature, he knows not he hath wrong'd you:
Made an excuse with Plangus for what offence soever.
Pl.
Thou hast wrought upon me,
And I am resolv'd to live a day or two more:
But if I like it not—
Well, I will go to try to sleep a little—perhaps that may—
I'me strangely Melancholy—prethee lye down by me
Inophilus, I'me safe while in thy company.
Exeunt.
SCÆNA 2.
Enter Plangus as from sleep.Pl.
Lord! how this spirit of revenge still haunts me,
And tempts me with such promis'd opportunity,
And magnifies my injuries!
Sometimes it calls me Coward, and tells me,
Conscience in Princes who are injur'd like my self,
Is but an excuse they finde for that is in truth
Poorness of spirit, or something baser;
It tells me tis a sin to be good when all the world is bad.
It makes me look upon my self, whilst wearing
This garb of vertue, like some old Antiquary,
In cloaths that are out of fashion in Iberia.
But I will not yeeld to it, I know it is a greater glory
to a mans self (and he that courts opinion,
Is of a vulgar spirit) to disobey then satisfie
An appetite which I know is sinful.
Good heaven guard me, how am I tempted.
Enter Androm.
To put on my former temper, but thus
I fling it from me.
Throws away his sword.
SCÆNA 3.
And.Why how now Prince?
If you part with your darling so easily,
There is small hopes but you have thrown all love behind you.
Heaven, how she's alter'd!
I that once swore, Jove from the well-tun'd sphere
Ne're heard such harmony as I did, when she spake;
Me thinks I can now in comparison of her voice
Count Scritch-owls musick, or the croaking Toad.
And.
Who is't you speak of Sir?
Pl.
Tempt me not, Madam, with another word, for by heav'n
You know I'me apt being incenst—
Wake not those wrongs that bellow louder in my soul
Then wretches in the brazen Bull, or Jove
Who speaks in thunder; those wrongs my goodness
Had half layd aside. Or if you do,
I have a soul dare what you dare tempt me to.
And.
Sir, I must speak though Jove forbad me
With a flash of lightning.
You think perhaps Sir, I have forgot my Plangus.
But Sir, I have infinitly injur'd you,
And could not satisfie my conscience,
(If I should say my love too, I should not lye)
Till I had ask't your pardon.
Pl.
Madam, the fault's forgiven and forgotten,
Without you move me to remember't with a worse Apology.
Live and enjoy your sins, and the angry gods:
Nay the severest plague I wish you, is,
That you may dye without one cross (for afflictions commonly
Teach vertues to them that know them not while prosperous)
Secure without one thought or sense of a repentance.
And.
Me thinks you have a steely temper on, to that
Which the other day you wore, when you were
More soft then down of Bees;
But Sir if you but knew the reason why I have done
The action, which you perhaps call treason to our loves,
You would forbear such language.
Pl.
Reason! no doubt the man that robs a Church,
Or prophanes Altars, hath reason for what he doth;
To satisfie your lust, you have that reason, Madam.
And.
That I have loved you once,
I call heaven, my own heart, and you to witness;
Betwixt us, hear me.
Pl.
O heaven! is that a conjuration! things you have broke
With as much ease as Politicians do Maxims of Religion.
But I will hear to know you, and to hate you more.
Speak on.
And.
You know whilst Leon liv'd, whose due they were,
I out of love resign'd my love and honour unto you.
Pl.
Lust, Madam.
And.
I know not Sir:
Your eloquence gave it that title then.
How many dangers walkt I fearless through
To falsifie your pleasures? your very will,
Nay more your word, nay if I thought by sympathy
A thought of yours, that I imagin'd you
Might blush to speak, I made it straight my own,
And waked and studied as much to put it into act,
As doth a Gamester upon loss to compass mony.
At last we were betray'd Sir, to your Father's spies,
Who deny'd us afterwards those opportunities
We stole before, be-friended by my husband's ignorance.
Now was I brought to that which is the worst of ills,
A seeing, but not enjoying of that which I held dearest.
To see you daily, and to live without you,
Was a death many degrees beyond my own.
I knew the love was great, so great I durst not own it.
Nay more I knew twas noble too, so noble
I knew my husband being dead you would not stick
To ask your fathers leave for publick Marriage.
Pl.
Heaven and the gods can witness I intended it.
And.
Nay farther yet, I knew your fathers love,
Which would not have denyd you any thing,
Would also have granted that.
Pl.
Madam, you riddle strangely.
And.
When I had forecast these easie possibilities,
I yet foresaw one thing that crost our designs,
That was a sense of honour I had in me.
Me thoughts in honour I could not condescend, you
Should debase your self so low.
I yet foresaw one thing that crost our designs,
That was a sense of honour I had in me.
Me thoughts in honour I could not condescend, you
It pleas'd me better to be your Mistress, then your Queen,
And stoln imbraces without the scandal
Of a publick eye, were sweeter then those
Which might bring upon me (for rising greatness
Is still envy'd) the rancour of the people, and
Consequently distasts against their Prince.
Sir now we may act safely what might have been
Less secure. Your fathers name gives a protection;
Or if that startle you, wee'l call him husband.
And stoln imbraces without the scandal
Of a publick eye, were sweeter then those
Which might bring upon me (for rising greatness
Is still envy'd) the rancour of the people, and
Consequently distasts against their Prince.
Sir now we may act safely what might have been
Less secure. Your fathers name gives a protection;
Or if that startle you, wee'l call him husband.
Pl.
Are you in earnest?
And.
As serious as love can be.
Pl.
Then I want words to tell you how I hate you:
I would sooner meet Megæra 'tween a pair of sheets.
And can you think I should have so small piety,
As to be false unto my fathers bed?
That I lov'd you once, I confess with shame, and that I should
Have done so still, had you preserv'd those flames
I think with horror, but for those sins, and
Whatsoever else I must repent, I shall no doubt
Have great occasion, when I shall see the Kingdome
Enveloped in those swarms of plagues your sins call down,
And feel a share of them my self.
I would sooner meet Megæra 'tween a pair of sheets.
And can you think I should have so small piety,
As to be false unto my fathers bed?
That I lov'd you once, I confess with shame, and that I should
Have done so still, had you preserv'd those flames
I think with horror, but for those sins, and
Whatsoever else I must repent, I shall no doubt
Have great occasion, when I shall see the Kingdome
Enveloped in those swarms of plagues your sins call down,
And feel a share of them my self.
For heaven's sake, Madam! for my father's sake,
Nay for my own too, if that have any interest,
Learn now at last a vertue, that may make us
As happy as much as hitherto unfortunate,
And render your story to posterity so burnisht
With your shining goodness, that their eyes may not
Perceive the errour of your former years.
Perhaps I then shall have a reverence for you,
As great as any son hath for a fathers wife.
You wonder, Lady, to see me talk thus different
From what you saw me half an hour ago.
I look't upon my self as one that had lost a blessing—
But heaven hath been happier to me, for I am now
So far from thinking you one, that I look upon you
As a plague, no sin of good Ephorbas could deserve,
But love to you—
Nay for my own too, if that have any interest,
Learn now at last a vertue, that may make us
As happy as much as hitherto unfortunate,
And render your story to posterity so burnisht
With your shining goodness, that their eyes may not
Perceive the errour of your former years.
Perhaps I then shall have a reverence for you,
As great as any son hath for a fathers wife.
You wonder, Lady, to see me talk thus different
From what you saw me half an hour ago.
I look't upon my self as one that had lost a blessing—
But heaven hath been happier to me, for I am now
So far from thinking you one, that I look upon you
As a plague, no sin of good Ephorbas could deserve,
And.
Sir,—
Pl.
Answer me not in words, but deeds;
I know you alwayes talkt unhappily.
And if your heart dare do whats ill,
I know it can well teach your tongue excuses.
Exit Plangus.
SCÆNA 4.
Manet Andromana.And.
And is my love then scornd?
The Chaos of that eternal night possess my breast,
That it may not see to startle at any
Undertakings, though they would make
Medusa's Snakes curle into rings for fear.
If greatness have inspird me with thoughts
Of a more brave revenge, they shall be acted.
A husbands murder was such a puny sin,
I blush to speak it; but it was great enough
For a Merchants wife: a Queen must be more
Daring in her revenge, nor must her wrath
Be pacify'd under a whole Kingdomes ruine.
Enter Libacer.
SCÆNA 5.
And.My better Genius thou art welcome, as
A draught of water to a thirsty man,
I ne're had need of thee till now.
Muster those devils dwell within thy breast;
And let them counsel me to a revenge, as great
As is my will to act it.
Lib.
Madam, leave words.
The rest you take in breathing makes your anger cool.
Out with it, and if I do it not, if I startle
At any ill to do you service, though it be to kill my mother,
Let me be troubled with the plague of a tender conscience;
And.
What need I tell thee more? Plangus must dye,
And after him Ephorbas, because he is his father.
Lib.
Madam, he shall. But give me leave to ask you,
How he, for whom alone of all the world you had a passion,
Is now become an object of the hatred, so great,
As others must dye because they have relation to him.
And.
The aire is hot yet with those words
I profferd him in satisfaction.
And he refus'd it, what need I speak?
Is't safe that he should live knows so much by us?
Lib.
He had been happy had he never known what vertue meant.
I wonder that paltry thing is not banisht earth,
It neer did any good yet. Beggeries a blessing to't;
Who ere grew rich by vertue?
Madam, wee are not troubled with it. But to our business,
I have thought a way. You know his father loves him,
Tis he shall ruine him, and lets alone for him.
And.
Pish, pish, that cannot be.
Lib.
These women are alwayes with their Cannots,
What cannot be? have you but read the Sophy?
You will finde that Haly (Oh how I hug that fellow's name)
Ruin'd great Mirza by his father, and his father by his son.
The great Politician while all the Court
Flam'd round about him, sat secure and laught,
Like those throw fire-works among the waving people,
That have nothing but fire and smoke about them,
And yet not sindg one hair. Indeed he fell at last;
'Tis true, but he was shallow in that part oth'plot.
What have we his example but to learn by it?
Praise Plangus to Ephorbas then so far,
That first he may fear for his Kingdome,
And if you do proceed till he grow jealous of his bed,
'Twill do the better.
The King coming, I must be gone.
Exit Lib.
Manet And.
SCÆNA 6.
Enter Ephorbas to her.Eph.
How fares Andromana?
I'me glad this greatness sits so well about thee;
My Court was blest that hour I knew thee first.
Wee'l live and still grow happy; we shall flourish
Like some spreading tree that shall n're cease,
Till its proud height o're look the skies,
I hope I bad fair for a boy to night.
How happy should I count my self, could I but leave
My Kingdome something that had thy image in't.
And.
Sir, never think Iberia can be happy in another son,
When such a Prince as Plangus lives the heir.
Who is the subject of all men's prayers, nay
The deserver too. There's not a man or woman
In the Kingdome hath one good wish within their breast,
But they strait bestow it upon Plangus, a Prince
Whom mothers shew their little children, as something
They should learn betime to worship and admire.
Eph.
I know, Andromana, but—
And.
Sir, vertues perfection
Is at the height in him. What ever after ages bear
I give the name of worth to, must if compar'd to him
Be but as foyles to set his glory off the brighter.
Nor are the men only thus taken with him.
There's not a Lady in the land but sighs with passion for him,
And dreams on him anights.
Husbands grow jealous of him, yet with joy
That they are Plangus Rivals.
Eph.
All this is nothing. Men talk't as loud of
Me when I was young.
And.
Yea but they say Sir,
You were not half so mincing in your carriage,
Nor so majestick. Besides—
Eph.
I hope they do not make comparisons.
Starts.
Sir, I thought we could not have discourst on a more
Welcome theam then what is full of Plangus.
Ep.
No more you cannot.
Let him as a less star enjoy his splendor,
But 'tmust not be so great to darken me.
But prethee do they compare us then?
An.
You're discompos'd Sir, I have done.
Eph.
Nay nothing but the remembrance of a foolish dream.
What say they?
An.
Why Sir, some went so far,
To say, they wondred a Lady of my years
Could marry the father, though a King,
When I might have had Plangus himself.
Ep.
They did not—
An.
Then I confess I blusht, and had been out
Of temper, but that I thought it might be
The Court fashion to talk boldly.
Ep.
This story jump't just with my dream to night;
Me thought I saw him threatning to kill me,
'Cause thou hadst marry'd me;
But the young sawcy boy shall know, I hold
My Scepter strong enough to crush him into Atomes.
Did they not name Inophilus?
An.
I think they did.
He had some share of praises too, but it was so,
As gleanings to a lading cart,
They sometimes fell beside.
Ep.
Then I am satisfy'd, tis an aspiring youth.
Tis something that unites Plangus and him so.
I must be speedy in resolves.
Exit Eph.
SCÆNA 7.
Manet Andromana.An.
Who waits without there?
Enter Libacer.
Oh art thou come? stay, let me breathe, or else,
Lib.
Nay spare your pains; I know it all,
As usurers do unthrift lands, or jealous husbands
Confirm their Cuckold-ships by ocular testimony.
An:
It took most rarely,
Beyond our hopes. I'le leave the rest to thee,
Thou art so fortunate in all designs.
Go on and prosper.
Lib.
And I'le attend for an opportunity to meet
With Plangus, and betray him to ruine
As great as unavoydable.
Exeunt.
| Andromana : or the merchant's wife | |